Actually
when the NHL formed in 1917 it consisted of 5 teams,
namely the Montreal Canadiens, Montreal Wanderers,
Ottawa Senators, Quebec Bulldogs and the Toronto
Arenas, which was the only team with artificial ice.
The Quebec franchise did not operate in the 1918 season.
In 1918 the Montreal Arena was destroyed by fire and
as a result the Montreal Wanderers withdrew from the
league, reducing its membership to three teams. Also
in 1918 the Quebec franchise was sold to P. Quinn of
Toronto, but the franchise had to play in Quebec. It
did not participate in the 1918-19 season. For the 1919-20
season the Quebec Bulldogs franchise was reactivated.
Toronto Arenas changed their name to Toronto St.
Patricks. In 1920-21 the first of many NHL franchises
was transferred, from Quebec to Hamilton Ontario. During
the 1923-4 season a franchise was granted to the first
American team, the Boston Bruins, and also a second
Montreal team called the Maroons. As can be seen the
first six team NHL occurred in 1924-5 but varied greatly
from the six teams promoted today as the original
six.

For
the 1925-6 season the Hamilton franchise was dropped,
with the players being signed by the new New York
American
franchise. Also during the 1925-6
season a franchise was granted for Pittsburgh for
the following year.
Also in May 1926 the New York Rangers franchise was
granted, and in September the Chicago Blawkhawks
and the Detroit Cougars were granted franchises. Finally
the league known as the original six is starting
to
take shape. Also for the 1926-7 season Toronto
St. Patrick's changed their name to the Toronto Maple
Leafs after being sold to Hugh Aird and Conn Smythe.

For
the 1930-1 season Detroit changed their name to the
Detroit Falcons, the Pittsburgh franchise was transferred
to Philadelphia being called the Philadelphia
Quakers. For the 1931-2 season, Philadelphia dropped
out and Ottawa withdrew for the season, resuming play
the following year. During the 1932-3 season the
Detroit franchise revises its name again this time
to the Detroit Redwings. For the 1934-5 season Ottawa
franchise moves to St. Louis named the St. Louis Eagles.
This franchise folds the following year. On March
17, 1938 the Montreal Maroons played their final game.
In 1941-2 the New York Americans change their name
to
the Brooklyn
Americans, but end up withdrawing for the 1942-3 season.

And
finally we are there. It took 26 years, after the NHL
was founded, but the "original six"
teams were now in place. This group of teams played,
as the NHL until expansion in the 1967-68 season. This
expansion doubled the league size to 12 teams
with the addition of the Minnesota North Stars, California
Seals, Los Angeles Kings, Philadelphia Flyers, Pittsburgh
Penquins, and the St. Louis Blues.

Before their first season is over the California Seals became the Oakland Seals,
finally ending up the California Golden Seals in 1970.
(no name change helped the franchises)

Based
on this expansion is where the name the "original
six" originated, not from the formation of
the NHL. The original six teams played in their
own division until the 1970-1 season, when the
Buffalo Sabres and Vancouver Canucks joined the
league.

In
1972-3 two additional teams were added, the Atlanta
Flames and the New York Islanders. Expansion continued
for the 1974-5 season with the addition of the Kansas
City Scouts and the Washington Capitols.

In
1976-7 the movement of franchises restarts. The California
franchise moves to Cleveland, renamed the Barons,
and the Kansas City franchise moves to Colorado under
the Rockies name. In 1978-9 season the troubled Cleveland
franchise merges with the Minnesota franchise.

Confused
yet, just wait. In 1979-80 the Edmonton Oilers, Quebec
Nordiques, Hartford Whalers and Winnipeg Jets
join the league from the now defunct WHA league.
In 1980-1 the Atlanta franchise is moved to Calgary.
In 1982-3 the Colorado Rockies franchise is moved to
New Jersey, renamed the Devils. In the 1991-2
season another new franchise is added, the San Jose
Sharks. For those that have lost count the NHL
consists of 22 teams at this point.

The
league stays stable at this level until the following
season when the Tampa Bay Lightning and Ottawa
Senators are added. In the 1993-4 season The Mighty
Ducks of Anaheim and Florida Panthers are added, while
the Minnesota franchise is moved to Dallas, and
renamed the Stars. In 1995-6 season the Quebec franchise
is transferred to Colorado, renamed the Avalanche and
the following year the Jets are moved from Winnipeg
to Phoenix and renamed the Coyotes. In 1997-8 the Hartford
franchise is transferred to Raleigh and renamed the
Carolina Hurricane. The addition of the Nashville Predator
franchise in 1998-9 brought the league to 27 teams and
a major realignment of divisions took place for the
addition of the Atlanta Thrashers franchise in 1999-2000
season and the addition of the Minnesota Wild
and Columbus Bluejackets franchises for the 2000-1
season.

So
here we are at 30 teams. Some have been moved around,
some have fallen by the wayside. The list above
attempts to give you links and a road map through
the sometimes confusing development of the NHL.